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A package was shipped out. It held inside it the beta version of the Yggdrasil: Online headset and the game itself, Yggdrasil: Online Epoch. The Beta testers activated their games and created their characters, each sticking to a class and country.

"Hello." A smiling young man said. "My name is Zeth, and you are?" He said, waiting for the Beta testers to introduce themselves.

Leo found the package lying by the side of his door. His parents must've put it there for him. He grabbed the box and tore it open for the precious insides. He put on the headset and inserted the game into his computer and made his character. As the screen turned on he saw a guy looking at him.

"I am Alfre," Leo/Alfre said. "Is there something you need from me?"

Fairy called her friends and told them she was going to be busy, and apologized. She turned on her computer and started the game.

"Hey, Zeth, I'm Nayami! Pleasure to meet ya."

(Btw, is there a chat function, or do characters speak through the headset, or both)

(They speak through the mic on the headphones, but Private Messaging is available on their in-game menues.)

"Hello, Alfre, Nayami. My name is Zeth, and I have personally made you two Beta testers. There is one more we are waiting for, then our adventure on the continent of Yggdrasil can begin. Do you have any questions?" Zeth said, smiling.

(You don't have to read this chunk of stuff. The next paragraph begins the real stuff.)Scarlette was lying on her bed, her head buried in a book.Her dad knocked lightly on the door, although it was open. "Honey? You have a package." He said as he walked in.Scarlette looked up, her brows furrowed. "From who?" She inquired.The dad squinted at the package. "Something called 'Yag-drag-ceiling?'" He tried.Scarlette's eyes lit up as she realized when he had tried to say, and let out a chuckle. "It's Yggdrasil, dad. But thanks." She smiled. "Can you put it by my PC?"Her dad then walked over to her custom built gaming PC, and set it on the desk, next to a picture of him and her mother. He paused for a second to look at it. He turned around. "There ya go, sweets." He smiled at her. "I'll be working downstairs. I'll, holler when dinner is ready, okay?." And left the room, leaving the door open behind him."Thanks daddy." She but her book down on her bed, and walked over to her desk. Opening the box, she set up the game and adjusted the headset."Hmm..." I wonder how this will compare to PSU...She sat down at her desk, and began the game. With her character she already prepared, she immediately created the character and dove into the game.Her character materialized, and she now controlled Skydbladnir Xytamnis.

(It starts here)Looking up, he looked around the world, noting the life-like graphics around him. "Interesting," he exhaled. "Definitely better than PSU..."He then became aware of the other 3 players around him."Ahh, hello my friends!" He said as he walked over. "So this is the beta?"

(It's very close, as they're walking through the gates now. It has a large, circular wall surrounding it, and you can only see that and the spire from outside.)

"You are the third and fourth Beta testers, but I hope to get some more. The others are myself and a good friend who want to remain unknown from the rest." Zeth said.

"As far as monsters, we won't see any until we leave Lightfall. It's made to introduce new players to the game and help them grow, so only weak monsters will appear for a while."

They walked through the gates and they saw NPCs living their lives, but they looked just like real people. One stopped and smiled at them.

"Hello, travelers! Welcome to Lightfall Village. My name is Aleah, and I'm the mayor here." The beautiful brunette said with a smile. "You look new," Aleah said looking at Alfre, Nayami, and Sky'd. "And cute too." She said, looking at just Sky'd this time.

"I'm sorry about that, each NPC is a person with their own personality, life, dreams, fears, and, wants, as you just saw." Zeth said.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Zeth Auric, not my character, but my real self. I'm in charge of Claymore, the company who made Y:OE, as well as its head designer and the father of Y:OE. My avatar looks just like I do in real life, because I used a special bit of tech that isn't on the market yet." He said.

"As far as the other Beta Tester, she should be here any minute."

"I'm here right now," a female in a cloak said. She took off her cloak to reveal a slightly endowed but very beautiful girl with deep, raven hair and yellow eyes. She was wearing a yellow tunic with red trim as a dress, a red belt with yellow trim, a red breastplate, black gloves, and black long boots.

"My name is Shanna," the woman said. "I'm Beta Tester number one, meaning I was picked first, get it? Good. Now remember it." She said, brushing her hair back behind her shoulder with her gloved hand.

(Lol time to start my harem)Leo ignored the people and looked around. He was fascinated by how realistic everything looks, as if Claymore literally made a brand new planet. To be able to be a pioneer was a refreshing experience. Alfre whistled a tune. "What's our objective in the game? Kill things, save the planet, catch em all..."

"The objective is to fight until you reach level 100. There are portals in each boss chamber, but the bosses will respawn at random, but never the same day as you killed them or over a week since then. Bosses will respawn if it is someone's first time in the boss chamber, though." Zeth said.

"What? Did you say something? I was distracted by my sword being a reliable, practical weapon. You know... Unlike your little crystal ball." Shanna said with disgust.

"Let me set this straight. I'm not here to make friends. You three got to be Beta Testers by random chance, I won a tourney to EARN the right to be here. You are charity cases. But I'll help you if you need it, but not for free." She added.

"Ahem!" Zeth said. "We are all gathered here to join up to make it through the first ten floors together. After that, Y:OE will be proven abd shipped to all who preordered it... Save for you four. This copy will activate as a real copy once we finish. Enjoy." Zeth said, proud of the world he built.

Scarlette blushed uncomfortably when the AI had flirted with her.Sky'd shook Zeth's hand. "It's nice to meet you, sir! The game looks very impressive so far. And giving each AI their own characteristics is quite something."

Sky'd put his hand on his weapon and approached Shanna after hearing her little spiel with a steel look on his face. "Listen nerd, I've played alot of MMOs and RPGs, and people who get big and bad in just a game usually can't back it up in real life. So I suggest you drop the b****y attitude and go enjoy playing the game by yourself, because you won't make any friends."

Sky'd walked away.

He turned back to Zeth and put a smile back on his face. "So Zeth, any other last minute advice? Secrets, bonuses, anything like that?" He winked jokingly at Zeth.

"Yes, actually." He said. "Youe EXP will grow in different ways depending on how you play the game. If you play both with your guild and solo, you will be godly."

"Listen up, dumb ***. I've beaten the **** out of guys bigger than you in real life, so the only reason I'm not dueling you right now is your body. It's really good. So's the blue mage's though." Shanna said, smirking.

"All right, you two. Calm down. I do have the power to ban, and I'd hate to ban two of the first five players after ten minutes." Zeth said.

"Whatever. If I hadn't agreed to join your guild as part of the Beta Test Agreement, I'd be out on my own." Shanna said.

"Someone else looking down on me. Why is everyone like that? Why do they either pity me or look down on me?" Shanna muttered as Zeth smiled at her. "Hey, We're friends, if that counts for something." He said.

"Yeah, but everyone said my tourney win is only because we're friends. Something else people try to take from me." She whispered to him. "Who cares? You know you earned it, I know you earned it, so who cares what the others think?" He said to her.

"Now, everyone! Let's set out for the first dungeon! It lies behind the Springwood Forest!" He said, loudly.

Zeth stopped smiling. "It appears we can no longer log out and, in about 30 seconds, our consciousnesses will be transfered to the game instead of real life. Also, we will start to look a lot more like our real selves the longer this goes on."

His face was shocked. "If we die here, our character dies for good. If we become characters in the game... This is not good."

"WHAT!?" Shanna said. "How is this even a possibility!?" "It's not... Unless... Someone stole a secret project I've been working on in my private lab..." Zeth said.

"The BioWare is a life supporting device that allows you to exist in a game's world while constantly providing you body with digital nutrients that convert through your headset into physical nutrients. It's not even fit for Lpha testing, so I don't know why or how we got stuck here." He said.

Alfre felt uneasy all of a sudden, and looked back to the small silhouettes of the others. "They're still talking? Surely they're not so scared of the first dungeon..."Fairy and Nanami screamed. "I can't just give up my life to become a character! Th-There are people wai-waiting for me..."She ran to Zeth and put her hands on his shoulders. "You can fix this, right?"

"I don't know. If I knew how it happened, that's one thing, but I don't. And if someone et Claymore did this and then ships the game to stores, I'll be ruined, people will die, and those who survive will be trapped here. But if we can find and kill the sixth player, we could get out. But are any of us ready to take a life?" He said.

"I don't care." Shanna said. "This is far better than what I have back home, you know that Zeth. I think I'll go tell Blue Mage." She said running to Alfre, explaining what was going on.

"Her body's changing to look like her real life self." Zeth said. "I can tell by her shrinking chest..."

"Here. I've changed some of you equipment qualities. Your face will appear softer than it was, but that's all. Just don't let anyone see you without you outfit." Zeth said in a hushed tone.

"Wow. Nice to see the real man over there stayed manly." Shanna said, her hair changing to a reddish orange. "If anyone says one thing about my bust or hair, we'll find out just how mortal they are in this game!" She yelled.

Alfre noticed the silhouettes slowly change, wondering why. He felt like he was shrinking as well. "The heck is happening?" He looked for a window in one of the buildings and saw Alfre slowly changing into Leo. "THE HECK? WHAT'S HAPPENING?!!!" he yelled.

Nayami was also shifting into Fairy, getting shorter and equipment feeling bigger, hair getting shorter, (breasts getting larger huehuehue) and the worried look being more apparent.

"Hello." A man said looking at the group. "My name is Alazar. You are no longer playing Zeth's game, but living in my world. As I speak, I have hacked Zeth's email to give the OK to ship the game. Why would I do this, you ask? Because I can." Alazar laughed, his chalk-white skin almost glowing in the setting sun.

"I have become a god. I am what you wanted, Zeth. I am Yggdrasil itself. I will be waiting on the top floor of the final level... Or among the crowds... I, unlike you all and the sea of fools to come, can come and go as I wish. I also have many accounts that are nothing more than loyal AI." He chuckled.

"Unfortunately, I cannot nullify the safe zones or change the level of the monsters here... Regardless... Good luck..." He said, laughing as he faded from view.

"No... This world is my life's work... And it's... Ruined..." Zeth said, on his knees.

Leo saw the pale man appear before the group, and he ran as fast as his legs could take him to tackle the guy. Unfortunately the man disappeared and Leo slided headfirst into the ground. He sat up and groaned. He was going to threaten Zeth for answers but realized Zeth appeared much bigger now that Leo got shorter. So he got straight to the point. "Why is this happening?"Fairy looked place to place, shaking a little. "Well if we have to... defeat that guy to get out of the game... we should get going, right?"

"Ya' see, Zeth! My boyfriend agrees with me!" Shanna sai with on hand on her hip and one on Sky'd's shoulder.

"It's OK that you didn't answer. I'm only dating you because you look like a shy boy who needs confidence. I'll help you build it, and then you'll get a girl of your own, OK? Here. It's my email. If you need any help, mail me." Shanna handed Sky'd a piece of paper. "But if you tell anyone I'm helping you, I swear, I'll castrate you." She added.

"****! My brother! If he just finds me passed out at my computer, he may turn me off!" Shanna said, panicing.

"No, our computers cannot be shut down. I tried it already. This 'Alazar' guy has written a virus into the code somehow. It's now play or die, and we have to live at all costs." Zeth said as they made it into the woods.

But they were attacked by a giant spider that stood eight feet high from it's head to the ground.

Leo winced, and when he opened his eyes no one got struck by the silk. Nayami's orb was pulsing with fire, so he assumed she used it to burn the silk. "So we still have the strength of our characters?"Fairy instinctively held her orb out, and a fume of fire burned through the silk, and hit the spider. "Whoa. Never experienced that before."(This works out right, we still have the same powers?)

Two left as the remains of a spider crashed into the others. The two charged at the group, but Zeth raised his shield to protect them from one as Shanna did the same on the other side. It was clear they had teamed up before.

(Wouldn't we hear Sky's new voice, or is it still gonna be big boy soundin)

Leo levitated his orb above the spiders, and the orb morphed into a dozen ice shards, which rained down on the spidersFairy placed her orb next to the two spiders, and it pulsed like a heartbeat, each pulse damaging the spiders

Scarlette realized that her voice was turning, and tried her best to make her voice sound unisexual. Her voice could be compared to a teen boy now. She cleared her throat. He sat next to a fire. "So, "she began, staring at the fire," What are our bodies doing? Is time slower here than outside? Is someone trying to wake us up? "

"Well." Zeth said. "Our bodies are being supplied with a special life support system. They're probably still in whatever position they were in when we left."

"How will we know nobody will mess with them?" Shanna said."There is a message on our screens that tells everyone not to disconnect us or we die. I hope that's good enough." Zeth said."Eww... So some perv could steal my body?" Shanna said."That"s not likely." Zeth said.

Leo kneeled down. It's not like he cared about his life, but all these other people probably had friends and family to get back to. He stood up. "That was a nice warmup, let's go see what's next."Fairy shuddered. "Not likely but..." she paused. "Every once in a while some guy's going to go to my house, and if he sees me there..." She dropped to her knees, as if she just barfed. After a while, she gained her composure. "O-ok, let's just go and find this guy."

"If we continue to go on without sleep, we'll die." Zeth said. "Luckily, I've just sent out an email to all of our kin, so we should be OK on the physical plain, but our minds are what we need to protect."

"Well... Thanks, I guess, but how will we find him before the game goes on the market?" Shanna asked."I told everyone who got the email to tell everyone about the game being hacked and to not let others use it. Though, it may not help other people who got the beta..." Zeth said in a sad tone."Yeah. Great. I'm going to bed." Shanna said. "See you all when I get up."

"Well that's why I refused to let this hardware out. I knew it wasn't safe, but the others wanted to fix only a few of the bugs and ship it out for beta. Although I told them not to, one of them must have shipped it out behind my back, and that was hacked into creating this nightmare. The best part is, once I get out of here, my life is over. I'm ruined. My job, my house, my reputation will all be taken away from me." Zeth said in a panicing voice.

Leo was uncomfortable. He usually just kept on playing till 3, considering he had nothing to wake up for anyway. But if everyone else is sleeping, there's nothing else to do.Fairy wanted a seperate sleeping grounds away from the boys, but she'll just have to hope none of them are pervs. She tried to encourage Zeth. "I'm sure there's something for you, right? After we deal with this problem, maybe you could fix it up and it'll play better? After a bit of thinking what she just said, she shook her head rapidly and added, "not that the game is bad, though!"

"It was supposed to be a dream world come true for all who played. The idea of Total Immersion VR was supposed to exist, but not like this. You were supposed to be able to log on and off at will, but the world would move on without you. All the NPCs are unique; they each have their own lives... It was my dream. Now it's my nightmare." Zeth said. "If I could make it up to you people, I would... If I can, tell me." He said.

Scarlette noticed her hair had gotten slightly longer, and changed to her own hair color."Joy." She stroked her hair and looked up to Zeth. "How long is this transformation going to take?" She still looked like a majority of Sky'd.

Leo es sleepin on groundFairy patted Zeth on the head. "We don't blame you, it's not like this was your fault. Don't fret over it, k?" She saw Sky walking off somewhere, but decided not to question it.

Scarlette walked into the forest, looking down as she saw her body slowly transform into what she recognized as herself. "Ugh. How am I going to play this game as my weak self?" I wonder what they'll think when they see I'm actually a girl...She looked down at the ground, and tied her clothes tighter around her, as she shrunk from a 6'2" 205 lb man-giant to a 5'7", 127 lb girl.She tied a knot around her waist to keep Sky'd's white, puffy shirt in place. She also cut off some of the length of the sleeves so they came down to her forearm. The cargo pants had to be cut to a length slightly below above her ankles. They remained her of a pair of really puffy slacks. She tied the ankles around so it fit better. She kept the bandanna on her forehead. She lifted her axe. "Hmm." At least my real world physicality doesn't affect how much I can lift in a game... She sliced the air a few times.

She shook her head.And I thought this game would be fun. Reminds me of Tsukasa...

She emerged from the forest, slowly walked back toward the fire.As she approached the fire, she gradually became visible. When she reached the flames, she stood there for a moment, her right arm grasping onto her left, her head looking into the fire.Her face didn't reveal much emotion, except for a slight awkward look. Her eyes were somewhat sad looking.

She silently sat back down on the ground around the fire, her eyes not leaving the fire.

(I can already sense the scene Scorp wants to use)Fairy pointed to Leo's body, lying on the floor. "Can someone pick him up please? I don't think it's healthy to sleep in that position..."She walked over to the tent, and curled up near the side.

"OK, goodnight, Nayami!" Zeth said as he moved the fallen lump of humanity into a tent.

"Now," he said. "Sky'd. You're now an agorophobe. You don't trust others or like being out here, so you'd rather sleep alone and spend a lot of time by yourself. Doing this will help you keep your cover, OK?" Zeth said, but he heard a rustling in the bushes.

"No..." He said in horror. "That's another group of players making a camp... They've made more beta testers..? This is wrong... We need to keep quiet and douse the fire now." he said as he doused the fire and threw their world into darkness. The other group passed them by without notice. All of them, save for one, who's eyes met Sky'd's. But they all walked off.

Scarlette went into the tent with him. She smiled at Zeth. "It's okay Zeth, I'm not gonna hide being a girl from the rest of the group. I don't look like Sky'd anymore so it doesn't matter."

As she kept quiet as the beta testers passed, she was surprised the other beta tester could see her while in cover. Her eyes grew wide for a second, as if shocked, and instinctively reached down for her Weapon, but the beta tester just kept walking. She whispered to Zeth. "One of them looked straight at me... Why are we hiding from them?"

"Because we can't trust them. If they think attacking us will get them an item, they'll do just that, and they may not know that death is final, they may have been lied to or not told anything before they were given the Betas." Zeth said.

"And by the way, my real name is Seth. That's a secret only you and Shanna know, but I figured it would be nice to tell you a secret since you're... Y'know... Let's just get some sleep." He said.

Scarlette was already up, sitting on the top branch of a near tree.She looked down, looking at the stew. She had a sour look on her face. Why would they need to eat in a game?She climbed down, and looked at the stew, confused."Uhh, Shanna? Why are you making food? Technically this is just our minds in the game. Not our physicalities."

"Are you an idiot? I'm hungry, so I'm making food. You don't have to have any. By the way, you seem to be doing fine with Zeth. I think he likes girls, though, so I'd stop hitting on him. Maybe he has a girlfriend in real life, did you think of that?" Shanna said without looking at Sky'd.

"Maybe all of you people hate him for getting stuck here, but I don't! He's still the only one of you I'd die for, the only one I'd even THINK about calling a friend, so back off of him! It's not his fault!" She said blushing and almost crying.

Leo groaned and sat up. He appeared to be in a tent, but he had no idea how he got there. He should've seen his dark room and the computer's screen left on by accident. Instead he was outside. It took a while, but he remembered why he was there, and went outside."Quiet it down, would ya. It's still really early, and I'd like my sleep."Fairy's head was pounding. After the stars flew away from her head, she went to see what the commotion was about. "Shanna, can you please not do that..." she said as she sat on the grass. She looked to Sky. Everyone's looked different, except maybe Zeth, but he looked really... different. After Shanna's sudden "outburst", Fairy looked disappointed that she wasn't considered a good enough friend yet. So much was happening, and it's only been a few minutes. She wanted to do something. Yet, she didn't want to bother anyone, so she just stared at the sky.

"I... I'm... Sorry. For that outburst, I mean." Shanna said. "Can you keep a secret?" She asked. "Of course you can. Look... I have a... Thing for Seth, I mean Zeth. I don't like it when someone wants to take him in that way. I wanted to be your girlfriend to make him jealous. I'm sorry for that too..." She said.

(in my mind's eye, i don't see Scarlette looking anything like a man. but it's up to you)

Scarlette looked taken aback, as if this all came at her with surprise.She regained her composure shortly after, and looked a Shanna with a smile and winked at her so that she knew her secret was safe with her.She looked at Zeth."Nothing, actually. Shanna just wanted to make some food. What are the benefits of eating food in a game?" She wondered.

(I had in mind that since Sky was wearing big clothes, people couldn't really tell)

Leo, still partly sleepy, scowled in his mind. This has to be a dream, if people end up being so friendly to each other. Did something happen to humans that make them so much nicer then a year ago?Fairy took the stew, and put a bit in her mouth. Meh, it was adequate. She finished her bowl and put it on the side. "Um... you guys should hurry up with your breakfast, and we should head on out."

(her face and build are very feminine. i'll be more specific with the description next time. my bad lol)

Scarlette rolled her eyes."Annnnyway, we need to do something. We still have alot of ground to cover if we want to get out of this d***game." She folded her arms and turned to Zeth. "Zeth, how long does it take to beat this game? Now would be a good time to tell us everything you know about it. Secrets, cheats, hidden weapons... Anything to help us survive."

Scarlette shut her eyes and swore under her breath. She looked at Zeth. "Well, whenever I've played a MMO, normally currency was the key to staying ahead of the game. We just have to keep battling monsters." She eyed the rest of the group. "Are any of us healers?"

"Healers are -" Shanna got cut off by Zeth. "I don't think so..." He said."That other team had a healer, maybe we should join up with them." Shanna said. "I already am forced to not play solo, so shouldn't we just get a massive army under you, Zeth?"

"No, some players won't care about the fatality thing, so I don't trust any of them at first glance. It's safer to keep our distance." He said, before a group of four Living Trees attacked.

Scarlette lifted her axe. She thought about making a lumber jack joke, but she shook the thought off.She dodged an attack from the living tree. "Hah! All those years of gymnastics finally paid off!"

(Reading this isn't necessary. I'm just developing my character.)

After landing from the dodge, she realized what she had just said. What did I just say...? Do I really still think this is just a game? I don't think all of this has sunken in yet... Actually, given the severity of the situation, I may never make it home.

More negative thoughts ran through her head until she finally realized this wasn't a game anymore.

The thought of death made her shiver. She had already been exposed to death once, and did not desire to get near it once more.

She was shocked into inaction, and stared at the rest of the group as they fought the trees. She fought the urge to start crying. She dropped her axe and stared at it as her eyes started to water. What do I do now? Papa, what do I do...? I don't want to die...

She idolized her grandfather. Putting herself in his shoes was common when she needed advice. But whether or not her grandfather actually did respond, there was always a small voice that weighed her options for her. "Those people are your best bet home. Help them in any way you can. Now's the time to stop being afraid, Scarlette. You and I both know the reason you always play as male characters. But being afraid is normal. Now's your turn, sweetie. You can be just as good as them. You can be who you want to be. Be brave. We'll be with you the whole time. Just be careful."

She shook her head from her trance, and realized she was still looking at the axe.She took a deep breath and picked it up. A few yards away, she saw the others contending with the enemies. She closed her eyes. Easier said than done.

(character development ends here)

She opened her eyes and ran back into the fight, sticking her axe into the backside of one of the trees.

"Oh... It appears you people are wandering around in the beginners woods... And to top it off, you're having trouble!" A haunting voice laughed at them.

"Come out and fight!" Shanna screamed."No, sexy. I don't think I will. What I will do is tell you about a secret team chest that will provide gol and EXP to the team of whoever opens it. It's right under thet large tree. See the opening in its roots? Go in there and you will find it." The voice said.

"Yes, but it's guarded by a boss that's at leadt seven levels higher than we are." Zeth said."Not anymore. I poisoned it a while ago, and just let the beast waste away. The sad thing is the fact I, a solo player, cannot open the chest. This is where you come in. I'll be present when you open it, and I'll get the reward. You people will too, as thanks for helping me. It should be 1000 EXP and 10,000 Gold." The voice said. "But one last thing... The redheaded girl with the axe goes first. She looks like she needs it to gain courage."

A shadow fell behind Sk'd. "Don't worry, you'll get used to seeing horrible things here. I personally have seen my entire group die, and I was powerless to help them. Now I'm not. Now I'm quite powerful, and you will be too... But only if you steel yourself and harden your heart." He said smiling.

"Do we have a deal?!" The voice yelled out from everywhere.

"What do you guys think? I know he's correct, we will all get the same amount of Gold and EXP, the full amount. Each of us. But should we trust him?" Zeth asked.

Scarlette could feel her heart begin to pound in her chest. Her breathing became abnormal as she could feel anxiety building up. "10,000 gold...?" She realized that could give them a huge boost when buying equipment. She wasn't familiar with the level system yet, but she could tell 1000 exp was a hefty amount.

She took a deep breath, and let out a shaky sigh.She raised her axe, and began to walk toward where the chest. She held out her axe out in front of her. The axe was visibly shaking in her hands. As she approached the tree, the chest was visible and she went in front of it.

Holding her axe in both of her shaking hands, she tapped the top of the chest with her axe, commanding it to open. Although she tried to keep her face as cold as she could, fear was still slightly present. Her grip on her axe tightened as she waited for what would happen next.

Leo looked in the direction of the voice, and tried to make out whoever it was. But he couldn't see the guy, so he just looked at Sky. He had his orb float in front of him, just in case something happens. But he wasn't really serious about it. If it was made to give in gold and xp, it's gonna give gold and xp. Nothin to it.Fairy shrieked as the trees disintegrated and listened to the voice, shuffling behind the party for protection. When Sky walked to the tree, Fairy was easily seen shaking, because the hacker might've made it rigged to explode or something. She wanted to test it out herself, but she decided she'd rather not kill herself.

The group opened the chest and got their promised rewards and more. They each got their armour upgraded a level.

"So, was it as I said it was?" Sky'd could feel his breath on her neck.

Shanna grabbed the man and his Shadow Veil dissipated. A young man was standing there with pale skin and bright, haunting blue eyes and black hair that covered one of his eyes. He wore a black coat, black pants, black boots, black gloves and a blue shirt.

"Well... It appears I've been found out... At least it was by one of you beautiful women." He winked and Sky'd and Shanna. "So, do you need a guide to the next town?" He asked.

Leo groaned. "You act weird. You can't expect us to trust you when you've been acting all sneaky earlier. Besides, Zeth probably knows the way, right?" He looked to Zeth for an answer.While, yes, the guy was most certainly weird, this is the second time she's been completely ignored, and her face grew red. "Yeah, Alfre's right. And we weren't supposed to trust anyone anyway."

"You're correct, Nayami. We shouldn't trust anyone. And I do know the way, Alfre... But he appears to be on the up and up... I'm not sure... What do you think, Sky'd?" Zeth said."Why do you care so much what she thinks?" Shanna said."Because I value all of our opinions, Shanna." He replied.

Scarlette plopped on the ground after opening the chest. She let out a shaky sigh. She shook her head and quietly laughed at herself. I'm such a freaking coward...

She got herself up and looked at the pale guy, looking him up and down. How was he able to kill all of those creatures so quickly? How long has he been in this game? What level is he?

She ignored Shanna's snide comment.She slowly walked over to Zeth, her eyes not leaving the pale one.

She talked quietly to him so that the pale one couldn't hear her."I dont know, Zeth. I'm having trouble resisting the idea because we need all the help we could get: which is why I took the risk and opened the chest. I just don't trust people in general... and like you said when that first group passed, we can't trust them."

Then something hit Scarlette. The pale one had said he was with a group before.She looked over at the man. "Wait. You said you were with a group before, and they were all killed. How did they die? And does that mean you know what happens in this game when you die?"

"Well... I survived because I'm a coward." The pale man said. "And I know far too well what happens when someone dies. My group went up against Alizar... And I ran... I figured that because I did not know them in reality, I would be better off saving myself. I don't regret surviving, but being a coward is hard to live with... I now have the name Oathbreaker." He said.

"Shanna, is it? My name is Cezare, or Arthur in real life, and I'd like to know how you know how you'd do in the same situation. You're a solo player at heart, and I'd bet you would let all of us die to save yourself."

Leo held his hand out to the guy. "I admit, I'd probably do the same thing if I was in your shoes..." He looked at his own group of strangers. "If you come with us, I don't care."Fairy felt astonished. She would rather just sacrifice herself then know she could've saved some people's lives. But not everyone would do that, she knew, so she gave him a break. "I-I'm just neutral about this..."

"Oh, good." Arthur/Cezare said. "Then I should tell you that I just lied to you. Being a Thief with Magical powers of the Dark persuasion, I do that. The real story of whjat happened to my team is more... Violent...

"We were walking along the road when we spotted smoke coming from the grass. Well, I noticed it, but I kept that to myself when I saw a beautiful ginger hiding in the bushes with a guy doing who knows what." He said in his Londoner accent.

"I had started to dislike my guild, and they were doing nothing to change my feelings on them when we came across a young girl of 16, I'd say, playing solo and injured. My team helped fight off the monsters, but demanded the girl pay them. The girl, level 1, obviously could not, so they held her down, stripped her of everything she had, and were about to start beating her. 7 men were about to beat on thes poor, wounded, girl... But they didn't... Because I took out my blade and plunged it in the first one's back. Using my Shadow Walk technique that makes me move so fast only my shadow is able to be seen, I cut down the rest. I didn't kill them all, mind you. Some I left for dead. But I returned the girl her things in exchange for her silence, then I left. Still want me around?" He asked.

"GOD NO!" Shanna yelled as she bared her steel. "NOW GO!" She screamed before shooting Sky'd a dirty look and muttering "Doing who knows what in the bushes with Seth... That b***h..."

Leo had the same expression on his face. "If I had the same speed as you I'd still do the same thing."Fairy was just plain scared of this guy now. Yeah, he saved a girl. But he still killed people to do it. Unless this was a lie. Is it? Is this guy just messing with her? Her head started spinning and she plopped on the ground. (plop)

Arthur leaned over to Fairy and held out a hand. "Let me help you up, little girl." He said smiling. He then turned to Alfre. "You see my point then, thank you. I thought killing seven people who would beat a 16 year old girl to death for not having money to save the girl was a fair trade. I'm glad you agree." He said with his eyes closed and a smile.

He turned to Sky'd. "Just what were the two of you doing alone, lying down, and muttering to each other in the bushes at night by a fire anyway?" He said, teasing her. "I mean, a boyfriend is one thing, but, let's just say 'loving,' each other like that in front of your friends? You have a filthy mind, M'Lady." Arthur said laughing.

"Geez! They were not doing anything of the sort!" Shanna said. "I... Trust Sky'd... She's not that type of girl... She's honorable, not some perv!.. But I do agree with what you did to your old team... Welcome to your new one... I'm sorry I misjudged you." Shanna said in a humble way, much to everyone's surprise.

"Then it's settled. We start for the. first town we see!" Zeth said with a regality to his voice.

(Just realized that the "ginger and guy" was Sky and Zeth, I'm bad at context)Leo just stood there, thinking about what he said. Would he really betray these guys so easily, for justice or otherwise? His mind said no, of course not, there's no way you would go so low to be another bully. If he had to survive, though, that's another problem.Fairy ignored Cezare and stood herself up. "I'm not a little girl", she muttered under her breath. She was still worried of what this guy could do, but if he could kill easily he would be a good contribution to the group. She sighed quietly and said nothing.

"If you're not a little girl, how old are you?" Arthur asked with a wink and started to laugh. "I'm just joking, Short One." He said as he ruffled her hair and laughed again. He then leaned down to her ear.

"Don't worry. I won't hurt any of you so long as you don't hurt the innocent. It's that simple. I refuse to let innocents suffer. You can understand that, right?" He asked Nayami with a smile.

Leo followed behind Zeth, quiet as ever. He had his hand at the hilt of his rapier, and looked around for any more surprises.Fairy looked at Shanna, nervously. "Are you all right? You should calm down, you're turning really red..."

"Yeah You're turning quite red Are you OK, Shanna?" Zeth said, looking into her eyes."Yes I'm I'm fine Seth, I mean, Zeth! Sorry I screwed that up too Nevermind" She said looming at the dirt while her eyes started to look like glass because of the tears in them.

"Wow Are you crying?" Arthur said, laughter in the back of his voice.

"SHUT UP!" Shanna said before running ahead blindly and falling down a ledge and and hurting her leg. She just collapsed and started to cry. ***********"What are you doing?" A voice from her memories said as she remembered. It was of an older girl. "I'm playing a game on the computer" Shanna said."Wow. I bet you can't even make friends in a game, can you?" The older girl said while laughing at Shanna. "Wow, you're clever. Who thought that one up for you? We both know that you're not smart enough to think that up." Shanna replied without looking away from her screen.

"Look, Kid. Nobody likes you. Not even the women who run it. So, if I were you, I'd be nicer to me." The older girl said.

"Whatever. I don't need friends. I'm doing fine without parents, aren't I?" Shanna said as she aved her game and shut it down."Not really. You're stuck at a home for girls." The older girl said."Just like you." Shanna said. ************At school the next day, Shanna finished up her run for gym class and ran into the showers when the older girl showed up again. "Awww Look You have the body of a twelve year old boy." She said to Shanna."Buzz off." Shanna said."Oh But don't you think the boys would like to see?" The older girl took a picture with her phone and tried to run, but Shanna caught her, beat her into submission and then broke her phone in half.

Scarlette looked at Shanna blankly. "What makes you think I have something going on with Zeth? Because we hid in the same bush when people walked by?" She laughed. "Good reason."---------When Shanna fell off the ledge, Scarlette jumped off after her, sticking the landing well enough to take minor damage.She kneeled down and lifted Shanna's head. "Shanna? Shanna!?"She looked up at the top of the ledge and yelled to Zeth. "She's out cold!"

"Leave me alone." Shanna said grogily. "I don't need help from you or anyone I'm not weak! You Think I'm weak, Don't you?" She said before passing out.

"Huh She's poisoned. By a diamond scorpion, it looks like. Fun, little guys make you pass out and experience your worst memories before faking your recovery. Then you die." Arthur said, almost laughing. "She brought it on herself by running off though." He added, but Zeth decked him.

"You don't know one thing about her! If she's having a problem, it's personal, so let her be!" He lifed Shanna's arms onto his shoulders and lifted her legs so she was on his back and started to run toward the town. "We need a healer in the worst way! We have to hurry!" He said.

Leo just ran alongside the group. "Why'd you run off..." he muttered. "Running... doesn't solve anything..."Fairy's eyes widened as Shanna stumbled on the ledge. She ran beside her, but she didn't know the first thing to do. She stared at the dirt, tears in her eyes. "Useless, useless." Zeth ran off to town, carrying Shanna, and Fairy followed suit. "This was my fault... I shouldn't have asked you anything..."

"Don't blame yourself, Nayami. Shanna's Having trouble getting used to being among friends, so she doesn't get the difference between playful teasimg and full on mockery." Zeth said with tears in his eyes.

He leaned down and gave Shanna a kiss on the lips. "I hope you know how much you mean to me, Erika Please pull through I'll be lost without you" He said, holding her hand tight.

An overdressed man came running out of the bathroom in the back of the tavern chasing after Zeth.He slowed his pace as he got close to the group shooing them with his hands."Give the girl some space." He ordered in a low irritated voice. He quickly slouches over Shanna using his hand to test her temperature before continuing.His hair is a disheveled mullet. His face is half smeared in thick makeup. Along with the fact that he came from the bathroom, his appearance does not convey professionalism."She's so crowded you couldn't cuss the cat without getting fur in your mouth." He groans while channeling energy into his cheap staff. A pale green light shining from it into the girl before him.

Leo sighed with relief. "Good, she has a chance now. Thank God for healers.""B-But I was genuinely worried..." Fairy said quietly. When the man started healing Shanna, Fairy backed away and had tears in her eyes. "Thank you..."

"Thank you, Sir. I I have no other words to express how thankful I am She's my closest friend And I almost lost her Thank you so very much" Zeth said with tears in his eyes.

"Hmm What do you want for it?" Arthur said, swinging down from the ceiling. "Nobody saves someone for free. What's your price? But be warned, we may take a disliking to it and That could get messy" He said laughing. "How about I buy you a drink?" Arthur was laughing totally now.

"Just order whatever you want and I"ll pay for it." Arthur said. "That way, you get exactly what you want."

Zeth had stopped speaking. Tears were running down his smiling face as he hald Shanna's hand and waited for her to awake.

"Where am !?" Shanna asked weakly, her vision still blurry from the poison, but she was getting better."Seth? Are you crying?" She said. Then it hit her and she started to blush. "Were you that worried about me and then that relieved that I was OK? That's really cool of you." Shanna said before pulling Zeth in and kissing him.

"Ahh." She broke off the kiss and gasped for air. "I heard everything you said, Seth. Did you mean it?" She asked."Every. Single. Word." He replied as they kissed again.

Looking perhaps too intensely at the two embracing, Clint eyes over Shanna for a few moments."Well now, the little darlin' looks fine to me." The messy healer states as he walks back toward the tavern. "The name's Clint.""I've gotta go fix my makeup, Y'all don't run off on me." With that he heads in making his way back to the bathroom.

"Who was that?" Shanna asked. "That's Clint. He's the guy who saved you.""Oh. Good. If it had been Arthur who had saved me, I'd have rather not been saved then owe him one." She said."Who cares?" Zeth said perhaps a bit too loud. He then grabbed Shanna, spun her around, and held her close and kissed her again. "You're safe, and that's all that matters." He said as he broke the kiss.

"They should get a room." Arthur said, nursing the wine he had payed for.

"Seriously. I'm still a kid, and they're "affectionating" too much." He sighed but smiled. No one died, and that's always a good thing. "O-OH CRAP! I haven't gone to the bathroom at all yet!" He ran off to find the nearest place of relief.Fairy flicked Alfre on the side of the head. "'Affectionating' isn't a real word." She wiped the dried tears from her cheeks and sat on a stool in the bar and relaxed a bit.

Leo paid Clint no heed as he rushed off to the bathroom he now found. Afterwards, he washed his hands in the sink. Looking in the mirror showed that he looked exactly like how he usually looked, but in Alfre's clothes. He felt small compared to everyone else, but so far no one cared so it's probably fine, right?Fairy nodded, stretching to him a little as she sat on the bar stool. "Yes, if something else deadly comes along, we can count on you, right?" Her eyes were shining with anticipation.

"Whenever. It has been for a while now. I can do whatever I need to as long as I have the correct items." He said.

"Besides, teaching you the lesson in combat psychology may have saved your life before it was in danger. Remember, get into your enemies mind and the battle is half over." Arthur said before taking another sip of his wine.

Leo came back from the BR, shaking his hands dry. "Did I miss anything?" he said nonchalantly. He sat on the stool next to Nayami's and spun on it (whether it can actually spin or not he shall spin). He took a good look at Nayami for a bit. She looked... familiar? He then realized he was staring so he turned to Clint. "So you're coming with us, right? Let's go then."

"Well shoot. I ain't exactly ready for a boss battle." Clint took a long gulp from the wine bottle. "Can't just let you run off with no way of healin' neither." Setting the bottle back down with a loud clank he asks. "Which one of you is gonna tank for me ?"

"Umm We don't have a tank." Zeth said. "The closest thing we have are Shanna and Sky'd, and they aren't very defensive" He said.

"I'm more of a speed and precision type, Shanna's a strike hard, strike fast type, and Arthur hides and strikes from the shadows. Nayami and Alfre are mages, awesome mages, but mages Maybe Sky'd?" Zeth said.

"I ain't gonna be too much help without one." Clint looks over the party with a concerned face. "I'll just end up in the dirt.""I need someone to count on, so y'all can count on me." His eyes are shifting between the others quite fast.He starts cycling between Zeth and Arthur with a frown. "How nimble are you boys ?" "Can you out dance arrows and blades ?"Then his eyes drift toward Sky'd, studying her while contemplating his options.

Scarlette shivered at the idea. "I think my character had better base defense stats than most, so I should take less damage than others...." She looked down, concerned. "But will it hurt...?" She asked innocently.

She raised one eyebrow, and stared at him intently for a second, as if analyzing his thoughts. She put her head down and smiled, letting out a weak snicker."Uhm. Thank you." She said without lifting her head.

Deciding to stop there, she opened her eyes, avoiding Arthur's gaze, and looked over to Shanna and Zeth. "Do we really feel pain if we are injured?"

Clint closed his eyes for a bit. "I don't have many buff spells, so it'll be a tough job, but you should do just fine."He extended a fist toward Scarlette. "If you ain't ready for it don't go pushing yourself though."

Clint then turned his head to Arthur. "Quickness, if you'd stop gabbing off and if you're feeling limber, you could take her place.""Healer and the tank's gotta be thick as thieves. " Clint let out a soft chuckle at his horrible pun.

Leo shrugged. "Yeah, my character's a full glass cannon, considering I took swords and magic. No way can I take lots of damage. You should just stay in the back.""Sorry, I should have picked a buffer for you guys..." Fairy looked at the floor, but grew a little smile. "But... death is the greatest cc anyway, right?"

"I can do it if you are afraid, my lady." Arthur said."Or I could do it. I'm more of a balanced type, but I could still do the job well." Shanna said."Or I No. I'd suck at it. Sorry, Sky'd. Sorry, Clint. I'd suck at it." Zeth said, rubbing the back of his head and smiling.

"Anyway" He continued. "We should get moving while we still have some daylight. It's not that far to the Boss Chamber, and maybe we can meet up with another team who will help us try to clear it." He said as he stood up and headed for the door. "C'mon, guys. We all want to go home, right?"

"Figures the thief is stingy." Clint's shoulders drop in an exaggerated gesture.Surprised at the girl's question Clint thinks out loud. "Can't say I've felt a buzz yet, but I know a way to tell for sure.""It should wait until after we win anyhow." Clint smiles widely as if the battle was already won or he lied about how sober he feels.

"A mile or two ahead, we should find a mountain with a large, stone door. The boss is behind it. We should be there before the sun sets." Zeth replied."Then what are we waiting for?" Shanna said, heading out the door. "C'mon, guys! Keep up!" She said.

"Stop your wandering eyes, sir." Arthur said, noting Zeth looking at Shanna's backside. Zeth's face turned bright red and he stormed out of the room as fast as he could.

Leo shrugged. "The rpgs I've played, all you need is a character with aggro and nothin will even think about touchin the healer. Guess that won't work here then." He left the tavern, heading in the direction Zeth pointed to.Fairy walked a distance behind the group, arms forming an x on her chest, focusing on not losing sight of anyone.

Scarlette caught a quick glance at Clint. She giggled to herself. We really have a diverse group... With out newest member having an accent, a cane, and makeup. I've never seen that combination before.

She turned to Zeth. "So Zeth, what should we expect from this boss? Where are his weak points? Is he vulnerable to a specific magic? "

"I don't know what it could be, I only know what it was. If it's still the same boss, It'll be a giant plant with lots of tendrils that will try to impale you, crush you, or drop you in its mouth. It is, or was, weak to Fire, but I don't know if it's still the same boss." Zeth said.

The Boss Door was in their sights. They got closer to it with each step.

(is it sad that that was the first thing that came to mind...?) She looked over to Clint. "Well, consider me your defender. There is no way I'm gonna be on the front after learning that." She was still shivering.

"That's a biggun." Clint could feel the hair on his neck stand up seeing the beast come toward them but wasted no time.Casting his low level defense barrier on Sky'd with a nod, he starts to focus on the task at hand. Backing up slowly, preparing to buff someone else next. Quickly shifting his eyes between his party members and the plant beast.

Scarlette's felt sick. Her face revealed a look of horror, disgust, and fear. Her anxiety got to her, and she wondered if she could get through a game like this alive.

She forced her eyes shut as if trying to wake up from a bad dream and clenched her fists. She shivered, calmed her mind and body, and opened her eyes. Now's not the time to think about that, She thought. if I want to make it out of here alive, I need to do whatever it takes to get them out alive too.

She unsheathed her axe, took her battle stance, and received Clint's buff. She tightened her grip. She stared down the beast, and yelled back to Clint. "Nothing will get back to you. Count on it!"

Clint quickly cast his buff again, this time on Zeth as he shouted his next move. Still cycling who he's looking at quickly, Clint stops backing away. Feeling relaxed by Scarlette's promise to protect, he shouts to her. "Your soundin' like a real hero darlin', I won't let you down !"

The creature started roaring in pain. A blade made out of black fire stabbed it in its back."Did you know that its back is covered with eyes? Rows upon rows of them!" Arthur said as he flipped over its head and down beneath it as Shanna tried to gut it from below.

Sky'd stayed vigilant, waiting for an attack that could harm Clint. She watched the others as they used their bravery and courage to right something that could very easily kill them in a moments notice... Or worse.

They know what's at stake, and yet they aren't afraid...? She thought to herself.

(Such posting)Leo thought about the boss when Zeth described it. If it's a plant, water probably isn't gonna affect it much. He'd have to help a different way. What could water do...At the lair, Leo tried encasing Clint in a little protective bubble. It worked, but bubbles are so freakin weak. He took out his sword and ran for the backside.Fairy's eyes gleamed. "Fire? I hope I have enough magic at this low level to beat that thing!" She swung her orb so it was between her and the beast. 3 fireballs appeared from the orb and crashed into it's face. "Too bad I can't see how much damage I do, but a mage gotta do her best!" She said both excitedly and nervously

"Somebody help get the rest the vines out of'im ! " Clint shouts in a warbly voice within his bubble. He's focusing all his energy into his staff spamming his healing spell as fast he can on Arthur."Ya alright Quickness ?! This ain't my first rodeo but I can't tell how much Hp ya got !"

Leo jumped and used the sword to hold on to the eye-covered back. He slid down, leaving a scrape in the monster's back.Fairy shut her eyes and held her hands. The orb moved to the back of the monster and Alfre got out of the way. The ball became a little sun, pulsing damage on the backside (I'm gonna balance this by havin it use all of her mana, to not feel so op in the beginning)

Since Arthur was fine Clint was pleased, but he didn't relax yet, offering only a nod in response. Quickly setting to work trying to buff before anyone else got damaged.Once more he casts his defense buff, this time on Shanna.

Leo looked at Zeth's temporarily glowing sword. He wondered when that'll happen to his, but for now he tried to slice the faces off the boss's back. "This thing gets grosser and grosser."Fairy fell hands first to the ground and panted. "So this is what happens when I'm oom. I can't really use this buff if i don't have mana to cast my spells, sorry." She did all she could and had the orb whack the boss. (If being oom can't work like that I can change it)

The orb burst into flames as Nayami unlocked the "Valiant Charge" skill. Her magic was restored as she leveled up.

The beast, known as "Demitrevias," burst into flames and let out one final roar as it fell. Nayami got the "Flame Cloak," a red cloak with golden flame trim, and the team leveled up.

"Good job, Nayami." Zeth said, now gasping for air. "We did it! Good job, everyone!" He yelled as he fell on his back. "Get up, Zeth." Shanna said, kicking him in the ribs lightly."C'mon, Shanna. We just killed a giant flower snake with spider legs. Let me relax for a bit."

"Idiots" Arthur said as he grabbed a rare item from the beast's body. "The less they know about these bonuses, the better. More for me, less for those who will most likely not survive." He sat far above the others on a cliff near the top of the chamber.

"I'd tell Sky'd, but I'd bet she would tell the others I'll let my mistress decide." He said. Arthur flipped a coin. "Mistress Luck has deemed her worthy of this knowledge"

Arthur jumped down next to Sky'd. "Do you want to hear a secret that could give you the upper hand?" He said, rolling the coin between his fingers.

Scarlette sighed relief and smiled at the team. As Arthur snuck up behind her, her smile faded and she rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms. "Are you always this cryptic? " She said with a half smile. She put her arms down. "Anyway, listen. I really want to say thank you. You saved my life. I owe you one." She said, and lightly kissed his cheek. She furrowed her eye brows and smiled slightly. "Don't read into that." "Well, what did you say about an upper hand? "

"Some enemies drop items that can be forged into great armor and weapons later on. I stole the boss's 'Seed of Truth.' It's only able to be gotten from this boss.

"I refuse to tell the others because then they'd know as well. You can tell how much I'd dislike that. I'm only telling you because of a coin toss But the items also give a gold bonus, so there is an advantage." He said smiling.

"Are you in or out? Will you or will you not join my quest to become the most powerful character? As a reward, I'd give you my second best armor and my best axes What do you say?" He said, smiling.

Fighting near Arthur the whole time, Leo saw him sneak something out of the boss's corpse. He stayed where he was, and watched Arthur sneak to Sky and whisper something to her. Not like anyone would tell him anything though, so he stayed quiet and walked out of the den, hands in pockets.Fairy got up. She beamed, and stretched her arms out. "That was the greatest thing I ever did! No way people would think magic is lame if they actually experienced it!" She put on the Flame Cloak and felt a bit stronger. "Looks cool, too," she smiled to herself. Fairy looked around at everyone else. No one else seemed to have gotten anything. "Oh... would anyone like to have this cloak?" She took it off and held it in her hand, offering it.

Scarlette's eyes closed halfway, as if annoyed. "My objective is to get out of this game, not become the strongest character in it."She cocked her head, thinking.

But... the stronger I become, the earlier I get out of this game. But I can't leave the others...

"I can't desert the others. And you shouldn't either. Teams are stronger than individuals. If you plan to make it out of this game alive, then we should work together. It was made clear that even you can't avoid weaknesses by yourself... You almost died in that last battle."

"I have proven that I don't need the whole team. If I didn't fancy you, Red, I'd have killed the thing myself

"On the one hand" Arthur trailed off and paced back and forth. "Why do I need to be the strongest if I'll leave the game soon But on the other hand, who says we will be able to leave? The same man who trapped us here" He stood there for a minute before turning back to Sky'd.

"You will take the Seeds of Truth. I trust you to do what is right. I know I would just mess everyone else over to get stronger, it's who I am. But you! You are good! You are honest! You are sex on legs! I trust you totally!" Arthur said before kissing her again, this time on the lips.

"Whoa! The English Rogue and the Shy Ginger?! What a cute couple!" Shanna said with a smile.

Scarlette was first taken aback, and blushed. After a second of hesitation, she slapped him. "Watch your mouth!"

"But that didn't make sense. Why not just kill it and share the experience? Why not share your equipment and make all of us stronger?" she closed her eyes. "Look. There's no guarantee that we can get out of here. But we have a chance; which is our only chance. If we can't get out..." She opened her eyes, which began to water. "I wouldn't stay here anyway."

"I didn't say I was leaving. Being on this team suits me for the moment, and being near you even more so Even though sticking around doesn't run in my family." He said with a smile. "We have all gotten the Exp from the battle, but this is a rare item. Keep it safe, someone may try to kill you for it." He said.

Shanna grabbed Sky'd. "I thought you weren't into him! Is it his accent that turns you on? Why did you kiss him so much? What's with the seeds?" She asked.

"C'mon, guys. Enough with the questions. Let's get out of here and find the next town or a place to make camp. I'm beat." Zeth said.

Oddly quite, Clint walked over toward the others.Coming to a brief rest next to Sky'd, offering a quick nod.He was leaning on his staff heavily as he walked.His eyes drifting to Arthur for a moment before wincing. He turned away quickly only to begin making way toward the exit at a slow pace.

Shanna started laughing at Sky'd. "Oh, but you two make such a cute couple." She said as she put her arm around Sky'd's shoulders. "Stick with me. I don't have a problem stabbing him through his hand if he tries anything like that again." She said.

"Well It's about half a day's walk down that road, but I don't know what monsters are out there." Zeth said."Well, let's get going! The quicker we get there, the quicker we get home!" Shanna said, full of energy.

She shook her head at Arthur lightheartedly. "It's okay Arthur. I'm not sure if that was supposed to be perverted or not, but thanks for the offer." "Zeth, do potions common in this game? I'd like to buy some so I don't have to bother Clint to heal me."She closed her eyes. "But yes, I need to learn how to fight for myself."

Zeth gave her a creepy smile. "I can tell you a way to be much stronger than fighting monsters would get you without hurting yourself." He said. "I could train you. Of course It would be like hell for you And it would hurt, but I'm offering."

Arthur looked disgusted. "Have I ever been anything but a gentleman to you, my love? How dare you think I would do something perverted? Have I not--" He got cut off by a punch to the face.

"Leave. Sky'd. Alone." Shanna said with authority. "And, yes. Potions are common But revivals are rare I don't know how they work, but they do." Shanna said.

"Sure." Shanna said. "But why did you go from thinking he was a creep to not minding him? Don't tell me you like that jackass!" She said a little too loud.

"Maybe I should have used this group like I did my first after all Trying to belittle me Disrespecting me Maybe No. I promised her I wouldn't harm these people or leave them to be harmed." Arthur muttered to himself.

"Oh, great. Now the creep's talking to himself! We may wake up with knives in our backs if we let him stay with us! He's already killed one team for reasons we don't truthfully know. We know he's not as noble as he made himself sound in his story, so why are we believing him?" Shanna said.

"He helped us. He almost died for us. Shanna You're acting just like one of those girls at school who would tease and bully you because if your red-dyed hair and different way of dressing. Why don't you trust him?" Zeth said."Why do you?!" Shanna said back loudly."He was willing to give his life for one of our friends! What more does he have to prove?!" Zeth yelled in reply."He wanted to get with her! He's not fooling anyone! He wants her body and he thinks because she's shy that he can get it without much of a fight! I've known guys like him! I've dated guys like him! He's a pervert and I know it!" Shanna said.

Sky'd cocked her head, thinking. "Well, he kinda is creepy, but I never said he was a creep. I said he was frustrating..."

She looked at Arthur out of the corner of her eye as he talked to himself, as if piecing together what he said... "Hmm..."

When they arrived at the inn, Sky'd stretched her arms out above her head, relaxing her body.She smiled. "Shanna, if you want to room with your loverboy over there, go ahead. You don't have to look out for me. I'm not gonna sleep much anyway, so it doesn't matter who I room with. I'll probably roam the town for a while and find a store."

Clint' relaxed hearing about the inn. "I'd like to rest for a spell. I don't need no extra privacy." Clint started to chuckle to himself. "You kids are starting to go crazy. No spell to cure spring fever." "I'll pay a share of the tab if you'd like Zeth." Looking over each of the party members Clint still chuckling offers. "Any of ya'll can bunk with me so long as you ain't planning on humpin' my leg."

Scarlette's eyes furrowed, angry. She approached him, and put her index finger out, poking him in the chest while she shouted. "No, that is not what I meant, d*****, and that's the last time I try to defend you! And now I can't even go out because you'll be out and about and who knows what you'll be doing! There's a different between confidence and cockiness, you should find it!" She put her hand down, got the Seed of truth, and threw it at him. "Take your stupid Seed, I don't want it." She said still yelling, stormed off to her room.

"Wait, Sky'd!" Arthur said. "I'm just meeting up with some old friends. They're a part of my first guild that got Disbanded, so to speak. I will be nowhere near the beasts you wish to fight! I will be at a tavern with the other two survivors of the Blood Brotherhood! It's been one week since the guild was destroyed. I'm paying my respects to some fallen friends with some old ones I wouldn't expect you to know what it's like to lose a bro- someone close to you" Arthur said before storming out of the inn, seed in hand.

"I will most likely not return. You people are nothing if not quick to judge others for living their own lives. To think I almost died for you people! What a shame that would have been! You probably would've looted my corpse and left me there! I was only here because of a girl, so now that she's not going to at least hear me out, I bid you farewell." He said before departing the inn and the team.

"****" Zeth said under his breath. "I'm supposed to be leading everyone to safety and I can't even keep this few people together We might as well give up now before we're all dead" He said.

Scarlette's face turned red. "Getback here! I'm not done with you!" She yelledat the top of her voice, stomping out of the inn, following him. "You have saved my life, and I said my thanks! But that doesn't mean you can be a cocky, pompous ass! That's all you've been this whole time, so don't tell me I'm quick to judge!" She slapped him. "And how dare you say we'd loot your corpse! You think we're the kind of people to kill you and take your stuff!? The way you present yourself makesyou look like the kind of person that would do that! So don't you dare put that on us!" She turned back to the inn, her voice lowered slightly. "Leave if you want. I'm not gonna stop you this time." Scarlette walked out of the town to go fight monsters on her own.

Scarlette stopped and turned around, still angry. "How can we know that's the truth, Arthur? If you made the first story up, this could just as easily be a lie!" She lowered her voice, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Listen. If what you say is true, then you should have just told us from the beginning. Killing him is our way out of here. And if you know anything about him, you need to share it with us." She turned back to the gate, ready to kill something outside. She stopped and turned back around."And yes Arthur," She looked at him straight in the eyes, her face cold as ice. "I am all to familiar with that feeling." She looked down, staring blankly at the ground.

She turned back to the town entrance. "But I will NOT be powerless anymore." She muttered. She drew her axe and held it by her side with her hand; her knuckles white from grasping it so hard.

Seeing the scene unfold Clint's face was stern. "Hey Quickness, you ain't the only one that's lost kin." Wincing again, Clint began to walk after him."I owe you a drink, how's about showing me the way to the tavern." He shouted limping in Arthur's direction.

(If every single person is gonna have a dead parent or somethin i'm gonna scream D:< )After watching the guys' little fight, Leo sighed. "I'm taking the solo bedroom, more used to that anyway." But he looked at the seed Sky through at Arthur. "What is it with that thing..." He shook his head. "You know what. Sky, can i come with?"Fairy nodded. "Ok, I'll keep it..." She looked at Zeth and Shanna. "Um, am I bunking with someone?" She decided not to turn to see the two guys fighting, as if pretending it didn't happen. "Stop fighting..." she muttered.

"It's OK, Nayami. They're just being idiots." Shanna said, putting an arm around Nayami's shoulders. "How about you bunk with me and Sky'd? You'd have to sleep in the same bed as on of us, but I think it'd be better to have you bunk with other girls." She offered.

Zeth sat there thinking about what Arthur had said about Alizar bein an Immortal Object. "If I can get access to the main server, I can shut that down and maybe send everyone home But seeing how this is the Beta, it's in the final level But we do have a chance." He said in a quiet tone.

Arthur showed up at a tavern without noticing Clint following him. Strangely, he left a few minutes later with two people. One was a big man with a nose that had been broken multiple times red hair, and dark blue eyes, and a well-built girl with very pale skin, black hair, and dark eyes. They all made their way to a graveyard where they paid their respects to their fallen friends and allies.

"It's not fair" Arthur said with tears in his eyes as he looked at a marker that just said "Ulric." "He was my brother I'm the family screw up, but I'm the one who survived. It should have been me" He said, but the other two did not agree.

"Your brother died to save us so that we could tell everyone as much about Alizar as we could, don't belittle his sacrifice. Just accept it." The large man said.

"Listen. We all have guilt over this, but we need to let it go and move on, OK?" The girl said before kissing Arthur on the cheek. "I know it's hard for a twin to live without the other, but you still have your little sister." She said.

"Thanks, Mia. Your cheeriness can be quite contagious sometime. Mia. Hassar. Let's go. I have some friends at an inn that we should speak to." Arthur said before bumping into Clint.

Clint's face had a solemn look. "I still owe you a drink. Looks like you might need it boy."His frown faded into a forced smile. "You're just a little too quick for me to keep up is all.""Who's your friends ?" Clint asked while scanning over the two accompanying Arthur.

Sky'd saw a large shadow moving towards her in the dark. It stepped into view as a Clay Golem, a creature with no real face, just rough stone, and long, thick limbs. There were two more behind it, but none had noticed the two would be heroes standing there.

"Watch your eyes, Clinton." Arthur said with a cold face. "That's my little sister, Mia, right there." The girl stepped out from behind Arthur. "Hi," She said in a light voice with a light accent. "My name is Mia, I'm eighteen years old, my weapon mastery in the Short Sword/Rapier and the Bow, and I know no magic." She said with a smile.

"Hmm." The large man said. "My name is Hassar. I use the Longsword/Greatsword, the Axe/Hammer, and the Lance. I am, like Arthur, nineteen years of age. I can also tell that I will most likely dislike you. You have followed the three of us to a solemn place and interrupted our rememberance." He said in a gruff, hard voice with a faint hint of an accent.

"Calm down, Hassar. He's a friend. Not a good one, but he's a bad friend in the good way." Arthur said. "Come. Let's go get that drink back at the inn. The three of us need to speak with the whole group."

Scarlette's face drooped. "I was asking for it, I guess..." Her anxiety kicked in, and her breathing began to get heavier, and shakier. Her axe began shaking in her hands as she realized she could die.

She ran forward, and swiped at the beast, shutting her eyes right before she hit it.

Clint furrowed his brow. No sense getting all riled up over that. Gotta keep my cool. They are grieving after all.Deciding to rest his eyes solely on Mia, however there was more irritation in his eye than attraction.His voice was still calm as he spoke. "Pleased to meet ya darlin', my name's been said already, but I'm a healer." Clint simply ignored the larger man.

"Agreed Quickness, how's about slowing your pace for me this time though." Clint said while trying to force a light chuckle.

Sky'd hit one of the Golems with a critical hit! One down two to go! Unfortunately, the other two now see her. They let loose a fissure that grew spikes from the gap it created in an attempt to trap and impale Sky'd.

"You're quite polite, sir." Mia said with a small bow. "Please forgive Hassar, he doesn't trust you yet. He's also not doing well with grief. Then again, my brother ran off to do God knows what after the battle, so I don't think he's taking it well either." She said with a smile.

"So Why are you so nice to my brother? Normally, he's kind of a jerk to people because of trust issues. Let me ask you one question, Sir Clint: Has Arthur been clinging to one person on your team?"

"That's enough, sis." Arthur said."That means it's a girl!" Mia said with a giggle."Anyway, thanks for showing up, Clint. It's good to know I have a friend." Arthur said.

Hassar just looked at Clint. "I believe I have misjudged you. The fault is mine. You are a better person than I thought, I just have a hot head and was looking for a fight to clear my head. Forgive me for such actions, Sir."

Clint's mood raised drastically now with a genuine smile. "Ain't no reason for y'all to call me 'sir'. "Looking up at Hassar, Clint says "Don't worry about it. A fight between you and me seems like it'd be a bit one sided anyhow."

Trying to think of why he trusted Arthur, Clint realized it wasn't anything more than a gut feeling. "I guess he just seems alright to me. ""Speakin' of the girl, she sure was mad as a mule chewing on bumblebees." Clint started to lightly rub his chin. "Hope she doesn't go gettin' into any trouble."

Her eyes grew wide as she realized there was an attack coming toward her. S*** s*** s***! She thought to herself. It felt as if her heart stopped beating for a second, and she was paralyzed with fear.You need to move! She thought.

She lept to the side, and curled up on the ground, waiting to see if she was too late.

(who is alfre?)Scarlette scrambled up and readied her axe once again. She stopped and heard the music. It shocked her for a second. Is that music...? She shook her head. Pay attention.She as still shaking as she ran toward one of the Clay Golems and sliced at it, this time trying to keep her eyes open. It didn't work, however, and she still slightly shut them.

The Golem let out a groan of pain as the axe found its mark. Two down. The last one grabbed the pieces of the fallen Golems and started to put them into its body. It became a Clay Titan and grew to thirteen feet tall and two more arms.

Leo was spooked. He was waiting for a good moment to reveal himself, but as he was going in the earth shook and he couldn't move. But he saw Sky tryin her best to kill the things, and he isn't gonna leave her alone. He tried to sneak behind the last golem and strike its leg with his rapier."Where's everyone going off too?" Fairy said, a bit lonesome.

Before looking at the item, she looked in the general direction of the giggle."Who's there!?" She yelled, her anxiety still not cooling down.When she waited long enough to deem it safe, she fell to the ground, exhausted. "That was not fun." She said to herself.

Waiting there a moment, she got back up, and picked up the item. She passed Alfre and offered a high five. "Thanks for the help! I wasn't sure what I was gonna do to that thing."

She took out the item and offered it to him. "Do you need some extra defense?"

"Come inside the gates of the village as quickly as you can!" An old man said to the two of them. "Dangerous monsters appear after the Dread Hour of the middle of the night! We were about lo lock the gates when I heard a giggling voice say you were out here! Come in before we have to leave you!" He said.

Leo pushed the heart thing towards Sky. "You're the tank. I'll get whatever item can increase my damage."Leo rushed past the gates and looked for the owner of the laughing voice. "Must be the same voice as the one outside, right? Definitely not an npc."Fairy heard the old man outside. "Dread Hour? Is that like a special grinding time for vets?"

Zeth looked at Nayami. "Dread Hour is when monsters come out in greater numbers and levels. It was a fun feature for people who like to play late and grind back when it was just an RPG, but now it's the most dangerous time to be in the game. Luckily, it only starts at level two, so the new players should be fine." He said.

"Well, alright then. Just thought I'd offer." She smiled at him.She used the item.

She heard the old man yell at them. She raised her eye brows. "So you're telling me the monsters I just fought weren't the strong ones!?" She yelled as she ran towards the gates.

When she got inside she went back to the inn, she put her hands on her knees and hunched over. "Whew..." she exhaled. She stood back up and looked for Zeth."Hey Zeth, what do you know about some giggling person who plays music?"

"To answer your question, young lady, My name is Hassar, that is Mia, and you know Arthur." Hassar said. "We are here to tell you what we know of Alizar. We battled him. We lost. He may be immortal."

"If we were to fight him again, we'd need to be leveled to near the cap. We'd also need a way to defeat an immortal." Mia said

"Sky'd. Did you say you heard someone giggling in the forest at night? I put in a secret program to aid someone to defeat an immortal object should a player make himself one." Zeth said. "Tell me everything that happened."

Scarlette had a wry smile on her face. "You're his sister, Mia? I'm sorry to hear that." She thought about making a snide remark about his lying abilities, but she thought better of it. She turned to the big guy and looked him over from head to foot.

She turned to Zeth. "What a coincidence. Yes, both Alfre and I heard the giggling. It happened when we were fighting some clay golems outside. There was also music playing as the fighting went on. It giggled and ran off as we killed the things. I thought it might have been dangerous. I couldn't tell if it was young or old..."

"Good. Good We may have a chance. We will need to buy flutes. I will teach you all a special song next time you hear what Sky'd did. It could be a faint giggling or out of place music or something else strange that you can hear but not see." Zeth said.

"Why is it poor me? You seem to be an ice queen that my brother is in love with. From what he said, he told you personal things, gave you gifts, trusted you the most, flirted with you, and even almost died for you! How dare you insult him like that?! How cold is your heart?! You'd be lucky to have a guy like my brother!" Mia said.

"Calm down, sis. I told you, she and I just didn't see eye to eye, that's all. I told you that I had lied to them, a lot." Arthur said."Yeah, but you told her the truth! You even got the Seed of Truth to start that stupid ring quest!""SHHH! I told you not to mention that!" Arthur said to his sister.

Shanna hugged Sky'd. "Good to have you back in one piece. By the way, Nayami's sleeping with one of us tonight. I refuse to have a young girl sleep alone." She said.

Scarlette's face turned red with anger, but she did well to hide her facial expression. Calm down, Scar. She's here to help. No use in starting a fight...She managed another wry smile. "It was a joke, hun. I guess that could have been easily misinterpreted."

When Arthur told Mia to not mention the ring, she lazily pointed in Arthur's direction. "This is why I don't trust him. So secretive."

She took Shanna's hug. "Thanks! And of course that's fine! We all need to stick together."

After checking over and fixing his makeup from the fall, Clint walked toward the others lightly chuckling."Quickness, is a good nickname with how he tries to court girls."Looking toward Sky'd he asks "What's all this about singing golems ? Some kinda summoner or beastmaster or something ?"

Arthur turned his back to the room. "The ring quest It let's you get a small, magic ring that ups every stat by five. I was going to give it to you and ask you to be my girlfriend." He said to Sky'd as Shanna choked on her drink from laughter.

Chuckling even more now Clint exclaims. "What is this, middle school ?""You gotta go on a date or two before things get official boy." Giving him a sly look he follows up with "If I get you the most expensive drink will it make you weak in the knees for me ? " Clint continues chuckling at his own jokes.

Leo ran back to the inn to meet up with the others, hands on his knees and panting. "Man... couldn't find her *pant pant*. The old guy said a giggling voice, told him we were outside, so i could've sworn, she would be in the place, but I couldn't find or hear her." He ran in in time to catch news of the ring quest. "Darn, that sounds cool. Wonder how I can start it..." (take note he does not know of the seed)Fairy nodded. "Sorry for the trouble, I don't feel safe sleeping alone in this situation."After Arthur spoke of the ring quest, she grinned. "That's so cute!"

"You don't gotta try and be so serious all the time boy. It makes you look like you're trying too hard." Clint said walking up to pat Arthur on the back.Noticing the out of breath Leo, Clint looked at him with a light sympathetic smile. "You alright there? You look a bit tuckered out."

Leo stood up. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'll just search again tomorrow or something. We should get to bed."Fairy shook her head violently, crossing her hands too. "No, I didn't mean it like that! Why does everyone take me so negatively..."

Scarlette's face blushed. "You were going to ask me out... In a game?" Her eyebrows were furrowed upwards, as if surprised.She felt awkward."Listen, I appreciate you looking out for me, but now isn't exactly the time to be looking for a relationship..." She looked down, averting his gaze. "I... uhh..." She shut her eyes hard, as if thinking about somehting. But instead of saying somehting she turned away and went up to her room, shutting the door behind her.

(Anyone keeping track of how we are divided right now ?)Clint started to head to his room, but stopped when he heard Mia. "If you don't mind sharing with a man, my room's next to empty. "He then looked at Leo "You're welcome too boy, I usually sleep on the floor anyhow."With that he went in.

(Leo's sleeping alone, pretty sure Shanna Fairy and Sky are sleeping together, Zeth's with Arthur, Clint's alone for now, Hassar isn't sleeping in a silly inn, and Mia is wondering where to go)Leo started walking up the stairs. "No, I'm sleeping alone. I prefer it this way." (Wait are there enough rooms, i dont remember.)Fairy followed behind Shanna, a bit nervous. The only people she slept together with were her parents. She sighed and went in the room.

"I'll just stay alone, then" Mia said, not wanting to stay with a man.

Shanna sat on the bed and took off her armor. "Anyone mind if I take a shower before bed?" She asked, removing her sword.

Zeth stopped Clint. "Looks like your leg's pretty bad I think you should stay here for now. Take this Waro Crystal. It'll warp you to wherever we are when you've healed up." He said before departing to his room.

She raised an eyebrow. "This is getting alittle weird. But... a nice hot shower would be relaxing!" She said, feeling excited to be able to take a shower.

She removed her armor, and looked at her clothing. I forgot I was wearing Skyd's clothes... I'm gonna go buy something tomorrow. If I'm gonna die in a game, might as well look good doing it. She thought to herself, giving a slanted facial expression.

She followed Shanna, "Do clothes get wet in this game or should I just keep the basic stuff on?" She shivered. She thought this was weird. This game logic could be weird in any number of ways.If this game has mechanics that absorb water, then this is probably the most thorough MMO I've ever played...

"Yeah, you'll want to undress like I did." Shanna said, washing her hair. "And I can move over a bit, I don't mind sharing the shower. It's what I had to do at the girls' home I lived at And I know you won't cop a feel."

Leo yawned and stretched. They just woke him up and he's still a bit groggy. "How long does it take to get used to a schedule..." he groaned. He poked Zeth, who was walking in front of him. "So what's this boss like. More tentacles?"Fairy had her hands out, enjoying the breeze. She started walking backwards, in front of the group. "Did all of you sleep well?" she called out.

"This boss? Well It's not gonna be easy to get to. It's located in the heart of a ruined temple. It sould be Arachana. Basically, a giant millipede made out of spider bodies with a scorpion tail and pincers and a hidden eye." Zeth said.

Arthur looked up to Nayami's eyes. "Last night was horrid. Nothing pleasant at all. His snoring kept me up all night."

"It was a great sleep!" Shanna said. "I was able to take a shower and brush my hair! Oh It felt great to relax a bit in a big, soft bed!"

"Don't chicken out on us, Sky'd You've been doing so well! Don't go back to being afraid." Shanna said, looking deep into Sky'd's eyes.

Arthur laughed. "So we just have to find the thing and stab it in it's eye? Easy! I could do it myself!"

"Arthur It's not that easy. It can -" Zeth said before getting knocked over by a girl running toward them.

"You left me behind!" Mia said to her brother."Yes I did. It's too dangerous for you." He replied."Arthur, I'm a legal adult! I can do whatever I want! Why do you keep treating me like I'm a little kid?"Because you're all I've left, Mia. Go back to the village, you'll be safer there.

Mia stood firm. "I can also heal people! You don't have a healer in your group! Let me help! Please For Ulric He was my brother too"

"Fine. Do what you will Just please be safe." Arthur said to his sister.

"You've never been able to say no to me, Arthur, and I'm starting to think you never will. Always doting on me You're the best." Mia said, then she hugged (and embarrassed) her brother.

Leo ignored the people and took out the orb. "I guess I should start using this thing more too..." He focused on moving it in mid-air and had it circle around him.Fairy was going to say something about how cute that was, but she decided someone's going to take it the wrong way again. She noticed Leo swinging his orb around (as if it was unnoticeable) and took her own out. Having it hover in front of her as she walked, she spun it and stared at it. Always using it for combat she never realized how beautiful it actually looked.

Zeth laughed. "It's about one town and another road away. The temple will take a few to get through, but I don't know how long."

He turned away from the group. "As far as Alizar goes We'll need to stay the night out of the gates tonight We'll have to brave the Dread Hour and all the monsters it will bring. I'd hate to do this without your consent, so if you don't want to go, don't. We will need to wait until we can find the cause of the music that Sky'd heard." He said turning back to the group."Who's with me?"

Leo nodded. "I don't mind fighting more things." I gotta learn how to stop bein so scared of them anyway, he thought to himself.

"But now that I think about it..." he looked at Arthur. "You've fought the guy doing this before? What's he look like? Where was he? How'd you get from him to us so quickly after he took over the game?" (Unless you have no answers in which I will delete this :/ )Fairy sulked a bit. "Um... I'll go... if everyone else agrees with it..."

"Everyone saw the same message from him the moment it happened. We just were able to track him using a dummied out item that let's you track the strongest players." Arthur said.

"You see, I'm not playing a Beta game." He said. Zeth cut him off. "You're playing the Alpha copy with the Glass of Truth! Why didn't you say so?!"

"It never came up. I didn't think it mattered But He has a skill that lets him cloak himself to blend in with his surroundings, so we never know who he is It's odd how quickly he was able to hack the game to get so powerful" Arthur tented his fingers in front of his face.

"Let's not make speculations on who he is or why he did it right now. We don't have enough proof to make any accusations." Shanna said.

Suddenly, five large, bone birds came swooping in. "Five Kursetells." Zeth said as he bared his steel.

Clint sat alone in his room. Staring at his leg, rubbing his knee occasionally.I don't get why it's actin' up so bad. This is a game, my leg shouldn't still be holding me back.He sighed, still frowning at his leg.His gaze turned angry as he grabbed for his staff.He sat focused on his leg as he tried to heal his real world injury, over and over.

"Here we go, let's do this." He tried to slash at one but it just flew higher than him. He kept jumping but it was pointless. "Oh wait..." His orb sprouted a ring of rushing water and had it ricochet off the birdsFairy let out a little scream as she shut her eyes and tried to hit the birds, but missed by a lot.

Leo tried to douse the Kursetells that were on fire. "How the heck would these things die?"Fairy breathed hard, and tried to calm down. She looked up and stared at the flames. "Maybe..." she wondered. Fairy tried manipulating the bird thing instead, and attempted to slam it on the ground.

Leo shrugged. "I think I prefer stopping bird monsters then counting our numbers every few minutes." He stuck his sword in its sheathe and started walking. "Standing here chatting won't help us, might as well make it before it gets darker." (I so wish I designed Leo's clothes with pockets, he seems like a guy who would use them frequently)Fairy put her hands together above her chest, and shook. "I'm sorry! There were these things and I was scared and I didn't notice you were gone..." Fairy started spouting gibberish flustered.

Arthur laughed at Alfre. "This man knows what is what! Why bother talking when we could get into a village and relax?" He then noticed Sky'd.

"Where have you been? We've all been worried about you?" He said, but then he heard what had happened and was shocked. "I guess we got caught up in the heat of battle and were unable to realize what had happened. Sorry."

"Just going to the village up ahead. We'll be staying until the middle of the night when we go out to look for the voice that Sky'd heard last night which means braving stronger monsters in larger numbers. If you don't want to go, you don't have to." Zeth said.

Shanna started to swing her sword. She wanted to test her skill against stronger foes. Her eye started to twitch and a smile crept across her face. "I can NOT wait!" She said.

Leo started walking backwards, facing the group. "You guys don't walk very fast, do you." He turned back around and sighed. "Guess it's better than wasting all our energy when a monster thing shows up..."Fairy walked a distance away from everyone else. She looked up from the ground and her eyes widened. "Oh! That's a town, isn't it?! No monsters came at all!" She grinned and started running off to the gates. She faintly heard Alfre mutter, "Sooner or later, she'll learn..."

Leo sat down and looked at Zeth. "You did? How come you didn't tell us sooner? What's she look like?" he asked, each question in rapid succession.Fairy laid down on a couch (probably), and stretched. "It feels so good to relax after everything was tense," she noted.

As Scarlette sat down next to the others, she smiled as they cracked a joke. She motioned to the bartender for a drink, and put a septim on the bar for the bartender.

She looked back to the group, and then to Fairy. At least they were content for now. Because we could all die at a moments notice. We should be training. Scarlette had a blank stare on her face, tranced, looking at her drink. Her thoughts gave away no expression.

"Things like that happen when alcohol is involved, Sky'd." Zeth said. "That's why I never touch the stuff if possible. Good thing this town has clean water."

"I am already sick of waiting." Shanna said. "I want to go out there, destroy some monster, and find the phantom girl voice!""Just try to relax," Mia said. "We will all be going out soon enough, and I"m in no hurry to fight stronger monsters in greater numbers anyway." She sat next to Shanna. "Be patient. It'll be fine, OK?""Arthur. Come get your far too optimistic sister before I get a cavity." Shanna replied. "She thinks I'm worried about tonight instead of excited to fight monsters!"

Mia blushed and walked to her brother with her head down. "She I I just wanted a friend" She said under her breath.

Leo looked at the unconcious man. "Why people drink, I don't know. It's like asking for a punch in the face."He sat across from Nayami and spread his arms. Staring at the ceiling, he muttered. "Shouldn't the healer be here by now? There's no way he's still just resting at the inn, right?"Fairy didn't notice anything until the big guy collapsed. She jumped up, frightened. "W-What?! Where did that guy come from? Is he dead? Ooaghh..."

Leo shrugged groggily. "I think I'm getting used to waking up early, but I don't think I'll be completely awake for a couple of minutes." He stretched and walked out the door. "I'll go on ahead..."After a hearty yawn, Fairy put up a sleepy smile. "I can't believe it's 11 already. I could've sworn I fell asleep a few minutes ago..."After watching Alfre walk out, she asked, "So we're going immediately? Not even a little time to, err, get more alert?"

Mia hugged Sky'd. "Thanks! You knoe, Arthur told me all about how scared and sad you were when you started this game, and, um, I, um, was inspired. You're my, um, hero" She blushed. "That must be the absolute dorkiest thing that you have ever heard. Sorry."

The group left the safety of the village for the danger of a dark and twisted forest.

Leo hid a chuckle from hearing what Mia said. Right, like we're all used to this crap now.

Leo instinctively brought his orb forward and it sprayed water at the fireballs. Leaving the orb to do whatever it wants, he dashed to one of the chimeras and stabbed under the neck.Fairy tried to calm down and focus on helping everyone. Noticing Leo was being a dummy and rushing in alone, she sent her ball at him and it provided a weak molten shield.

Leo jumped back, a look of shock in his eyes. "Dammit, I got carried away, forgot our situation..." He groaned and flicked his hand at the chimera he stabbed. His orb started flying from its original spot to Leo.

The ball levitated on one of his hands, and his other hand made a fist next to the orb. As he pulled his fist further from the orb, a spear of ice appeared. Leo chucked it at a chimera's general direction.

Fairy sighed. That kid almost died being so reckless. She was glad there was a front line, however, and that she didn't have to risk her life. Shaking her head, she did a swatting motion as her orb followed from where it was, striking a chimera. I shouldn't be so happy others are risking their lives instead of me. she proclaimed to herself.

"Hmm. It must be nice to have magic," She said as she raised her axe. She looked at Mia and nodded, giving her a smile. She took some steps forward toward the beast, her hands barely shaking. She was getting better at this... She ran toward the best with her axe trailing behind her. She uppercut the monster using the axe, and jumped back, ready to defend.

So water, and not ice... Leo thought about it. His orb moved high above everyone, and started raining like a cloudFairy pouted. "You idiot! How can I hit them if there's water dousing my fire!" She started to just whack them with her orb. "I hope this would work..."

"Alright, Leo, Fairy, I'm going to distract it, while I'm distracting it," she looked at Mia, "and I'll get an open shot for you. Hit it on the eye, and when that's done, we all attack while it recoils and it's vision is blurred."She looked at everyone. "Ready?"

"S-Sure, mistress!" Mia said. "I am but your squire!" Mia found her courage and nocked her bow at its eye. She drew. "Whenever you're ready, Ma'am!"

Just then they heard a faint music playing from a clearing. And smoke! There was smoke there too! "Alright! We have to hurry guys!" Zeth said, keeping the beast at bay with Shanna. Arthur walked away, heading for the music to see if he could distract it.

Leo stood straighter and looked at the direction of the sound. He followed behind Arthur, wanting to see what is playing the music."I wanna do something too." Fairy looked for something to do, but she didn't see anything. "U-um..." She sat down, playing with the grass.

Well, here goes nothing... She ran toward the beast, her axe trailing behind her. She had to get in close, risking damage but also giving Mia a clear shot. No sacrifice, no victory... She remembered her grandpas words. She threw her axe like a frisby toward the beast, hoping to buy some time so she could get in close... And distract it.

Sky'd's axe burst into flames and hit the manticore as Mia's arrow struck it. It died in a massive explosion.

"That was cool!" A petite, pale girl with ice blue eyes and snow white hair said as she sat in a tree with flute. "Who are you?" She said, now hanging upside down from a branch by her knees.

************************

A young man walked up to Clint. "I can heal you and warp you to your friends using the crystal they gave you, but you'd have to trust someone with no reason to help with your life. Do you trust me?" He said.

As the monster burst into flames, Scarlette was started and tripped, fumbling forward. "Well, the burning axe wasn't what I had in mind, but good thinking, Mia!" She gave her a thumbs up. She then noticed the little girl. Well this isn't what I had in mind...

"I am NOT a little girl! I am 300 years old! I may only look like I'm young, but that's because I am for my people! I'm on the verge of adulthood, jerk! You just lost my help! I won't help you stop the bad immortal guy!" She said.

Shanna was about to yell at her when Arthur stepped in. "I basically raised Mia myself, I can do this." He walked over to the girl and sat beneath the tree.

"Hi. My name's Arthur Southcross. What's your name, my lady?" The girl blushed. "I'm Zephyria. I'm the Spirit of the Forest, my lord." She giggled. "You talk weird. Your voice has an odd accent. Where are you from?" She asked. "I come from a far away place known as the United Kingdom. It's a magical place where me and my sister live in a small castle. We miss our home and can't get back without your help. Please help us. My friend, Sky'd didn't know how your people age. Please forgive her." He implored. "OK! But only because you and your sister are exiled royalty, my prince And because you like her. That way. I can tell!" Zephyria said with a laugh.

Zeth was shocked at how quickly that went. "Wow Now all we have to do is win the game with her here and her presence will negate any immortal objects we face!" He said with a smile.

Mia was on the ground. Sky'd had said she did well, and she was a little too awsyruck to notice what happened.

Leo, who was behind Arthur, added in a comment. "So you're the one who played the music? What for?" he asked, a bit rashly.Fairy got up and held her hand in front of Zephyr. "Hi, I'm, er, Nayami. But... how is it you can 'negate any immortal objects'?"

"I play music because I like it, and can negate immortality because I don't know why, I was just born with the power to do so." Zephyria said as she walked over toward Alfre. "You're quite handsome, sir" She said with a bludh.

Leo looked at the ground and scratched the back of his head. "Um... thanks? Now that I think about it, I haven't really looked at myself for about a year..."Fairy pointed at the direction they were going. "We should get going now while we can see where we're going, right?"

Leo put his hand on his forehead. "Yeah, all for our lovely prince and princess." He looked up at the kid. "So, where do you live? Is it nearby?""Well to be honest..." Fairy looked to the side. "We should probably grind to get stronger, shouldn't we? Although I would prefer staying in a comfy home..."

A bit surprised, Leo shook it off and stabbed downwards. "Screw this thing..."Fairy had a glint in her eye. "Shanna, are you psychic?" She just watched as the others attacked, afraid to deal friendly fire

"No, just awesome!" Shanna said as she stabbed the serpent through with a critical strike. "How much fun is this?!" She asked as she flipped away from its fire breath. "Did you know it could do that?! Awesome!"